Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-27
DAILY HERALD.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.
Colonel Mervyn D"nahue Takes
i'm Southern Caiifor nin.

In South srn Cutifornhus
Colonel Mervyn Donahue, President
of the San Francisco and North Pacific
Coast Railroad, arrived in this city q
week ago, aud has since that time been
taking in a great deal of the very beauti'
full country surrounding Los Angeles,
and has extended bis visit as far as San
Diego. The Colonel having vast inter.
ests in the Scnoma and Napa valleys is,
of course, thoroughly welded to that
section and desires its advancement
above all things. lie il, however, tina.
rara avis, truthful railroad man, and
when asked how he likes Los Angeles
and it's tributaries in Southern Califor.
mia, throws up his hands and Gays.
Gentlemen, words are inadequate to
express my high admiration OF the un-
surpassed beauty of your section; q
painter can alone depict its loveliness. q
poet chant its praises, a Cincinnatus
speak of its agricultural possibilities.
and prophet from on High tell what it
will be in the future, but then you
know we have more water around Sono.
ma than you have down here and that
will always put us ahead" The Colonel
when he made the last remark looked
as ii he were ou;raging his own con.
science. As to the glorious outcome OF
Los Angeles he had no doubt, and iuti-
mated pretty strongly that he might
erect q block or two of fine business
buildings here and rent them on five year
leases. 1t is to be hoped that
the Colonel will conclude to invest n
small proportion of his immense wealth
in this city, and thus divide his in interests.
On Thursday Colonel Donahue. I. c.
Wills, travelling passenger agent OF the
San Francisco aad North Pacific Coast
Company; Walter 5. Moore, John I.
Gaffey, Ii. V. Rlmsdell, of San Fran
cisco, and several Others, chartered the
palace car "Idler' aud made pleasant
Journey to San Diego. On their return
yesterday the party was reinforced by
Messrs Walter 5. Maxwell, j. Downey,
Harvey and II. l.. McCauley. OF the
California Southern, and trip was
taken to San Pedro. The country was
ut its best, aud the tourists were more
than charmed. The Colonel and party
of friends went to Santa Monica last
night, and o.day he aud MIR. Wills will
leave for San Fraucisco.
Johnny Bassett acted as eon-
ductor of the train to San Pedro,
Martin Wetzsl grasped the lever
and George S,oil kept up the fire. 1t is
needless 10 say that pretty fast time was
made, and that all felt secure with the
train in the hands of the above named
officers.
Mr.. Wills said that he was as.
tonished at the development OF the
country, and was satisfied that the ac
tivity of the Santa Fe in Southern Cali
fornia would have the effect OF doubling
our present boom. He is sure that the
Santa Fe will go to San Francisco, but
does not think that it W IL go in there
over the South Pacific Coast line.
He states that matters are
lively with the San Francisco
and North Pacific and that it is yielding
u handsome per cent. on the investment.
This company now runs its main line
from Tiburon Point to Cloverdile and a
survey is made to extend the road 10
Ukian. This will open up an immense
lumber country and will have the effect
of making building material much
cheaper on Ihis coast than it is at pres
en,. The company will also run a
branch from Petaluma on the main line
to Sonoma on the Souoma valley line
and thence on to Napa. charging the
Sonoma valley line from a narroR y to a
standard gauge road. This work will
be commenced in a very short tine.
All of the officers of this excellent
road are Young men, Colonel Donahue
being just IS years old and Mr.. Wills
about The same age. Though young IN
years they have old heads. as is amply
prov en- by the success of the San Fran
cisco and North Pacific.